6 x ideas for lunch: comforting ‘n easy
It's official: the cold is back. The mornings are foggy, at six o'clock it's already pitch dark and honestly? Your couch with that warm blanket calls louder than your kitchen cabinets. And then you also have to think of something for lunch in the middle of the day... sigh. You were already struggling to stay awake and now that big question also needs to be answered. Don't worry: I totally get you. No one feels like cooking a four-course lunch as if you're in a cooking show right now. You want something simple that still has the comfort of a home-cooked meal and that you can nibble on during your break. Let me tell you, I've gathered ideas for that: easy recipes for when you want to warm up at home or to take with you to work (where the microwave hopefully does work). So: scroll on, get hungry and inspired. Because these lunches are exactly what you need in these dark days.
1. Warm 5-minute gyozas
Craving gyozas but don't feel like whipping up a whole noodle meal? Then this is ideal when you're at home or to warm up at work.
You will need: 1 clove of garlic, 1 teaspoon of chili flakes and ginger powder, 1 small can of coconut milk (200 ml), 2 tablespoons of red Thai curry paste, 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, juice of half a lime, 1 stock cube, a few frozen broccolini florets, 1 carrot, 1 spring onion, and at least 6 gyozas.
Put a pan on the heat and add the red curry paste and spices. Stir this for a moment and then add the coconut milk. Wash your carrot and peel it directly over the pan – that's easy and saves on washing up. Add the broccolini florets, lime juice, stock cube, and gyozas and let it all cook for four minutes with the lid on the pan. At the same time, slice the spring onion into rings. Grab a bowl and serve: this way you have a real comfort meal in no time.
@emthenutritionist An actual 5 minute lunch by a nutritionist AD This is my favourite lunch to make. It contains warming ginger, garlic and aromatic chilli from the Very Lazy chopped range. Simply throw everything into one pot and simmer. To serve 2 you will need: 1 tsp EACH of Very Lazy chopped chillies, garlic and ginger 1 tin light coconut milk and 1/2 tin water 2 tsp Thai red curry paste 2 tbsp soy sauce Juice of 1/2 a lime 1 stock cube 1 large carrot and a handful of tender-stem broccoli 12 frozen gyoza Coriander and optional crispy chilli oil to serve In a large pot, sweat the Very Lazy chilli, garlic and ginger down for 30s. Add the Thai curry paste, stock cube, and the tin of coconut milk and extra water. Peel in the carrot, add the tender-stem and 6 frozen gyoza. Place a lid on the pot and bring it to a simmer for 3 minutes. Finish with soy sauce and lime juice to taste and serve. #verylazyverytasty
2. Apple-cinnamon oatmeal
With this cold weather, you really want something warm to eat. Oatmeal is a bomb of fiber and minerals that give you a long feeling of satiety. So it's good for your digestion and also delicious. Not so plain then, because honestly: who finds that tasty? Not me. This is my favorite recipe when I want to quickly put something on the table that completely fits my autumn vibes at the moment.
You will need: 1 to 2 apples, 1 tablespoon of cinnamon, a small lump of butter, 270 ml milk of choice, 60 grams (whole grain) oatmeal, and 2 teaspoons of natural honey.
Cut your apple into small cubes. Put a small saucepan on the stove with a lump of butter or a teaspoon of oil. Once that has melted and is at temperature, add the apple pieces to the pan. Throw in a good tablespoon of cinnamon and the honey. Let this sauté and soften on low heat. Meanwhile, bring the milk to a boil in a saucepan. Don't feel like doing that or don't have time? Then you can bring the milk to a boil in a measuring cup in the microwave and then pour it into the (slightly preheated) pan. Once it (boils again), add the oatmeal. You can also add 2 teaspoons of cinnamon here. Stir this well. Really important: keep stirring, otherwise you'll have a burnt pan in no time. This takes some multitasking, as you need to keep stirring in both pans, but it's better to stir more often in the oatmeal than in the apples. Once the oatmeal has the thickness you want and most of the milk has evaporated, scoop it into a bowl. Add the now caramelized apple on top, and that's it. In 10 minutes you have delicious oatmeal. Oh, and one more idea: if you're not into oatmeal? Then skip it. This cinnamon-apple mixture is also very tasty with Greek yogurt.
3. Caprese sandwich
Don't feel like eating something warm during your lunch? That's fine. Just try, nice and Dutch, a sandwich. And no, not just a regular sandwich with cheese. That’s allowed, but if you wanted that, you wouldn't be here. Build a caprese sandwich.
You will need: 2 ciabatta rolls or other hard rolls, 1 ball of mozzarella, 3 tablespoons of green pesto, 1 large beef tomato, pepper and salt to taste, and a bunch of arugula.
First, spread your bread with 1 tablespoon of green pesto. Place a small handful of arugula on top. Chop the tomato into thin slices and spread them over the arugula — this way your bread won't get soggy. Let the mozzarella drain well before slicing it into thin slices. Place the slices on the tomato. Spread pesto on the top of the roll and add a bit more arugula on the mozzarella. Do this all again for the second roll. Do you have a grill press handy? Then you can toast the rolls so the cheese melts.
4. Tuna Melt
We're staying in the panini area because we're going to make a tuna melt. Once you master this recipe, you'll never have to spend your grocery budget on a panini at Joe & The Juice again.
You will need: 2 slices of bread, 2 large handfuls of grated cheese of your choice (preferably mozzarella and young cheese), 1 can of tuna in oil, ½ red onion, 1 spring onion, ¼ cucumber, a bit of spreadable butter, 1 pickle, salt and pepper, juice of ½ lemon, 2 tablespoons of mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon of sriracha, and 1 tablespoon of kewpie mayo.
Chop the red onion, dice the cucumber and pickle into small cubes, and slice the spring onion into rings. Drain the tuna, but keep a little oil in a glass. Put the vegetables and tuna in a bowl. Add the mayonnaise, kewpie mayo, sriracha, and lemon juice. Sprinkle some pepper and salt over it and mix. Spread butter on your slices of bread. Flip them over and place the tuna mixture on one slice. Sprinkle grated cheese over it. Place the dry side of the other slice of bread on the tuna and toast the buttered sides in the pan or on your grill press. Cook until golden brown and there you have your Joe & The Juice lookalike.
@mooniebakie Easy, spicy, cheesy tuna melt you’ll want every day 🔥 Trust me — I could eat 5! Full of flavor and totally delicious 🥪♥️ FULL RECIPE 👇 🍞 Makes 2 Sandwiches ✨ Ingredients • 1 & a half cans of tuna (drained, keep a little oil) • 1 small red onion, chopped • 1 green onion, chopped • A small piece of cucumber, chopped (about a quarter of a whole cucumber) • A bit of pickles & pickled pepper, chopped • Salt, black pepper & chili flakes (to taste) • 2 tbsp mayonnaise • 1 & a half tbsp sriracha • 1 tbsp jalapeño lime sauce or spicy mayo (like chipotle mayo) • Juice of 1/2 lemon • Sourdough bread • Butter (for spreading) • Cheese (as much as you want) 📝 Instructions In a bowl, mix tuna, onions, cucumber, pickles & pickled pepper. Add salt, pepper, chili flakes, mayo, sriracha, spicy sauce & lemon juice. Mix well. Spread butter on both sides of the sourdough bread. Add the tuna mixture & cheese. Toast in a pan or sandwich press until golden & crispy. Enjoy your crispy, cheesy tuna sandwiches 😍 . . #tunameltrecipe #crunchy #fyp #spicytunamelt #toastie #sandwiches #spicytunamelt #sandwich 1TP5easyrecipe #sandwiches #grilledcheese #sandwichtiktok #cheesepull #toastie #tunatoaste #toastedsandwiches #lunchideas#tuna #easyrecipes #asmrfood #cooktok #comfortfood #homemade #tunasandwich
5. Chicken caesar wrap
A wrap can always fit in, especially for lunch. And such a wrap is super handy: you can eat it on the train, at the office, and it's not difficult to make. Have I convinced you yet? Did I mention it's chicken Caesar? Exactly. I know you want this, so I'll show you how to make it.
You will need: 2 wraps, 200 grams of grilled chicken breast, pepper and salt, chili flakes, 200 grams of romaine lettuce, 4 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese and (homemade) croutons, 3 teaspoons of Dijon mustard, 3 teaspoons of Worcestershire sauce, ½ tablespoon of olive oil, 1 egg yolk, and the juice of ¼ lemon.
Slice the chicken breast and fry it until golden brown in the pan. Sprinkle with pepper, salt, and chili flakes. Set this aside and start on the Caesar dressing. Mix the Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, and olive oil with 1 egg yolk. Want to make a healthier dressing? Leave out the egg yolk and replace it with 2 tablespoons of Greek yogurt. Sprinkle the Parmesan cheese over it. Mix until you have a creamy mixture. Add the lettuce and chicken and mix until you have a nice salad. Fill the wrap in the middle with the salad and fold it closed like a burrito. Store in the fridge and take it with you the next day, wherever you go. Don't feel like soft lettuce and want to make it on the go? Then take the dressing separately. Pour it into the container where you keep the salad and shake it Kardashian-style. Then fill the wrap with that. This way you eat like a real Greek emperor. Hopefully, you won't get stabbed then. Oops.
6. Easy peasy upgraded toastie
You want easy? Then you get easy. Ultimate comfort food: the toastie. You probably had this when you came home from school in the afternoon. Or a few years later, after a long night out. The toastie is the hangover cure and thus a cult classic. But yes, we are now ready for something... refined, right? Therefore, here it is: the upgraded toastie.
You will need: 2 slices of bread, mozzarella toast cheese 40+, cheddar slices, good butcher's ham, spreadable butter, and fresh chives.
Cut your bread diagonally in half. Spread the bottom slice with the butcher's ham. Place the mozzarella and cheddar slices on top. Sprinkle the cheese with chives and some pepper and salt. Fold it closed and spread the outside of the slices of bread with butter. Fry in the pan or grill until golden brown. Want it vegetarian? Then leave out the ham. And then the toastie is ready. Ready to be eaten.
Well, my stomach is already rumbling, so this is enough inspiration for today. Are you curious about more easy recipes? Then you can sit down every Monday for the ‘Easy Recipes of the Week’ section.
